We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Chou and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Our venture was born in the midst of quarantine last year to:

Restore the Arts

Re-employ the displaced

Give back to the community

A premium, first run drive in located in the heart of the city is unheard of, but it provides the basis to restoring the arts, and is evolving into a live entertainment venue as COVID restrictions ease. Few other sectors have been as devastated like the movie theater and restaurant sectors, so our drive-in re-employed over a dozen people. Finally, we partnered with numerous non-profits ranging from Meals on Wheels to #HateIsAVirus so we could give back to worthy causes while entertaining our patrons.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Executive recruiting is my day job having recruited board directors for publicly traded companies, tech “unicorns”, and C-suite executives. This has enabled me the privilege to meet and befriend some of the most inspiring and interesting people who in turn have become friends in addition to clients. I’m grateful for the founder of VIZIO for his help with my initial launch of WE Drive-Ins.

The Good – We’re grateful for our launch successes:

Sold out 18 of 20 first shows of a subtitled movie that no one had heard of at the time

Only first run theater within 15 miles of our Santa Monica location

Deemed a success by the major movie studios

Selected by and hosted Legendary Pictures’ employee screening of Godzilla vs. Kong

Raised funds for numerous non-profits

The Bad
Screen ripped and failed in the middle of movie the 3rd weekend of operations, resulting in north of $40,000 of damage, rental costs, and lost business income

The Ugly
Lot size and layout limitations made increased capacity impossible even as COVID restrictions eased

Still, we persevered, and glad to have hosted numerous private events, kept folks gainfully employed, and brought entertainment and relief to our patrons.

Welcome Entertainment Inc./WE Drive-Ins is in the midst of pivoting to utilize larger lots and feature more live entertainment

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, anywhere we’d be visiting would be the “best place” for no other reason than the company!! We’d have fun in the middle of a natural disaster!! That said, here’s typical day:

AM workout Equinox South Bay, utilizing the rooftop outdoor work out area

Breakfast at Huckleberry Cafe in Santa Monica

Lunch at Jonathan Club Santa Monica or SoHo House WeHo

Coffee at Century City Mall, perhaps a pastry or snack at Eataly

Enjoy people watching in Santa Monica, WeHo’s Sunset Strip, or along Robertson, and explore the many great dining establishments for dinner, be it a rooftop or Michelin rated restaurant, or one of the many authentic ethnic cuisine restaurants located throughout LA

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother and father for their selfless sacrifices, moving our family to the US with nothing more than a few suitcases to gift us the opportunity for a better life.

Mr. Roy, my 8th grade science teacher who nurtured my curiosity and encouraged me to pursue the stars, resulting in my applying and attending Deerfield Academy, UCLA BS Mechanical Engineering, and MBA, Kellogg @ Northwestern University

My wife Valerie and sister Nancy for their love, inspiration and support

Website: www.WEDriveIns.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WEDriveIns/

Twitter: @WEDriveIns

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WEDriveIns

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/we-drive-ins-santa-monica

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSnGV2_6Ah3ObxS4WX62sKiuwS3pHJUE_

Other: GoogleMyBusiness, https://business.google.com/u/0/photos/l/03797648327212932824

Image Credits
z Birthday picture credits to: – Design & Production – @studiokmrbi – Photographer – @owenkolas

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.